JAN
2018
mr. and mrs.
WILLIAMS
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photography by Katelyn Bell
magazine design by Unlike Juliet 2
MEET THE
newlyweds
ASHLEY BERRETT Ashley’s three greatest loves are dark chocolate, the outdoors, and Ryan Otis Williams. She has just one younger sister. Ashley is a registered dietitian and proud alumna of Utah State University. Her favorite Harry Potter character is Remus Lupin, her favorite movie is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and her favorite food is tikka masala. Ashley dreams of traveling to Patagonia, Iceland, and Costa Rica. She would really, really like to meet a sloth someday. Ashley is currently working on a master’s degree in nutrition at the University of Utah.
RYAN WILLIAMS Ryan is a native of Utah, and proudly so, as one of his great loves is exploring the outdoors with those he cares most about. He firmly believes nature's truest beauty is seen in its reflections of those who travel its paths, and has come to realize that never is it more beautiful than when he explores it with Ashley. Ryan's other loves include blueberries and backpacks. His favorite animal is the fennec fox because they are playful and have big ears. He loves all types of music and can go from listening to classical to hip-hop in one sitting. He has an associate degree in English from Salt Lake Community College and is a senior at BYU, studying global supply chain management with the goal to eventually work at a manufacturing company for outdoor equipment.
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OUR
story R
yan and I are both members of the LDS church and we met on a Sunday in the fall of 2014. Ryan and I were never in the same ward, but we met during a time when he had a stake calling that brought him to my ward to speak. I noticed him during his talk, and luckily, as he tells the story now, I happened to catch his eye as well while he was seated at the front of the chapel. Ryan, not a man to let an opportunity slip away, approached me after church meetings were done for the day and I was happy to give him my number. Our first date was a quick adventure up Little Cottonwood Canyon to hike to Cecret Lake. We both had fun but the timing was all wrong. I was only in Salt Lake for a few months for an internship, and because of my plan to shortly return to Logan to finish school, I wasn’t looking for a relationship in Salt Lake at the time. Ryan led a busy life as well and we quickly drifted apart as school, distance, and lesser dating pursuits got in the way. Fast forward to a year and a half later, I had graduated and moved back to Salt Lake to take a job. Out of the blue, Ryan texted me — I had never deleted his number, and apparently, he had never deleted mine. From that single date, he had remembered my love of the outdoors and had felt impressed to invite me to come to Moab with him and some friends. Unfortunately I was already committed to a different outdoors trip, but that invitation is really what got things rolling again. Even though I couldn’t go to Moab, Ryan was sweetly persistent that we should get together, and his persistence paid off. I finally overcame my shyness enough to go to a bonfire he and his friends were throwing, and shortly after that, Ryan took me on a date to go indoor climbing. We climbed a little but mostly we just talked and talked. Another date came after that, and then another one, and another one… Until before I knew it, another year and a half had flown by and that cute boy who came to speak in my ward all those years ago was getting down on one knee and asking me to be his wife. And now, here we are — Mr. & Mrs.!
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AN INTERVIEW with What was your first impression of each other?
A // That’s hard because it was a long time ago. But I would imagine it was something along the lines of cute, friendly, and confident because those are qualities I still notice about him. That, and when he first got my number, he invited me to go rock climbing…so I knew he was the adventurous type. R // It happened a long time ago—when we met—but I was giving a talk in a ward I’d never been to before, so all the people there were new faces for me. I just remember spotting her in the congregation and thinking that she was by far the cutest girl in the room, and so I decided right then that after the meeting I’d go talk to her. WHO INITIATED THE FIRST KISS?
A // I think I would say Ryan, but I definitely helped. I knew
it was the moment so I gave him my best “come hither” look so he’d know he could go ahead, haha. So maybe it was sort of mutual. Details aside, it was a perfect first kiss. R // I honestly believe it was at least a little mutual. However, I confess that I planned it out in advance. I took her to a cool
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the newlyweds
spot in the mountains right at sunset, and I knew the setting would be so right that it was just bound to happen, and it did!--most couples’ first kiss happens in a basement on a couch or something, but Ashley deserved a magical occasion.
WHO WAS THE FIRST TO SAY I LOVE YOU?
A // Ryan was the first. He told me he loved me the night
before I was leaving on a summer trip to Europe. It definitely made it harder to leave but easier to come back. He also wrote me the sweetest love letter to read on my flight since he knew I was nervous to travel alone. It was really touching. R // I confess, that was me. Actually, I proudly accept that role.
What’s the most interesting or surprising thing you’ve learned about each other since you’ve been together?
A // Ryan’s secret talent is that he’s a really good rapper.
I learned this when Ryan was taking me home from a date once and he spontaneously starting rapping along to the radio. It caught me totally off guard but it was truthfully really
adorable. He’s actually pretty good at it and has a fairly big repertoire. R // Ashley is unbelievably good at pun jokes. It’s the funniest thing. She really can outpun anyone in the game, and that’s no joke. She also had some unexpected passions that caught me by surprise. For example, once she made me a Beatles playlist that was categorized by era and style, and I thought that was fantastic! Most people her age don’t have an appreciation for music like that.
get to know one another and I have total confidence that our decision to get married is a really, really good one. R // After we began a serious committed relationship, I never really ever thought that she was not the one. That isn’t to say that I knew for certain early on that we’d get married, but I definitely had a feeling about her from the beginning that she was more special than anyone else I had ever dated, and that feeling only grew stronger and stronger the longer we dated.
What is one of your favorite memories together?
A // First, our honeymoon. We’re headed to southern Utah
A // I know Ryan is going to say the Subway but I want
to say that too. It was an amazing time but also sort of miserable from all the freezing cold water. Ryan really kept me going and it made me realize how much I trust him and how lucky I am to have an adventure partner who pushes me but takes care of me too. We’ve been on a lot of trips but this one stands out because I really feel like it brought us closer together as a couple. Plus, Ryan looks fabulous in a wetsuit! R // Once we went canyoneering in the subway at Zion, and it was an unusually strenuous time for everyone due to an unexpectedly high waterflow. I remember after the hike out Ashley was exhausted and tired (as were we all)--we were sitting in the car and there was so much relief at being done that she told me, in a very matter-of-fact way, that she was going to kiss me, and then she did! It was really cute and funny, because it had never happened before quite like that, such a straightforward declaration that we were going to kiss.
What’s next for you two? and hoping for some beautiful, snowy red rock. After that, we can’t wait to get settled into our new house and start our married life together. I see lots of adventure in our future. R // Well there’s finishing school, but we also really want to travel and just keep experiencing the outdoors. Ash has been learning how to lead climb, so that’s coming soon--her first lead climb. But we also have some places in mind to travel to.
What do you love most about each other?
A // I love Ryan’s approach to life. He puts his faith and
his family above all else and has an ever-constant positive attitude. He is so patient and he truly is a force for good in the world. I feel totally secure with Ryan and can depend on him for anything. In short, I’m a really lucky girl. R // She cares so much about the important things of life, without caring unnecessarily about those things of lesser importance. That is to say, I feel strongly that she has all of her priorities straight and I love that about her. I’ve never met someone before like her in that regard. Also, she is the cutest and her smile just makes every part of me want to jump for joy.
WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU'D MET THE ONE?
A // I can’t think of a defining moment. From the start, I
just felt differently about Ryan. He treated me so well and we had so much in common. Sometimes I would get this gut feeling about it, this realization of how lucky I was, but also a sense of security that maybe (hopefully) he was here to stay. It took me a long time to trust that feeling but I’m glad we dated as long as we did. It really gave us time to
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timeline
First date — 09/14/2014 First kiss — 06/18/2016 First “I love you” — 07/14/2016 Engaged — 10/14/2017 Married — 01/11/2018
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THANK YOU from the groom I need to thank my parents for helping me develop a personal witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and of the importance of His restored gospel. They have worked tirelessly in every other capacity as well to help me find joy. I also want to thank them for their love and acceptance of Ashley. I know they love her and are excited to have her as a daughter. You have been with me since the very beginning, loving me every single day, and there will be no end to such, and I couldn’t be prouder. I'd like to thank my siblings for being there for me in so many ways. To Zac for leading the way and being the best example in an older sibling that a person could ever want; for wanting to be not only a good brother, but a true friend. To Cassie for being a living embodiment of love and compassion, you are the glue of love that binds us siblings together as brothers and sister. And to Dave, as a man of the utmost integrity, a man who I know I can
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count on for anything, a man of courage who is not afraid to confront the unknown. You are truly a light unto the world. I'd like to thank my friends for their goodness, compassion and true friendship as we’ve shared the greatest of adventures. You’ve played a significant role in shaping me into the person I am today. Though the passage of time brings on new responsibilities that take priority over those adventuring days, I hope you realize that you will always remain close to me in my heart. To Ashley’s family, I can’t express just how much it means that you have accepted me as part of your family. You have been so thoughtful and kind towards me as I’ve dated Ashley, and I’m so grateful for the wonderful influence you’ve had on Ashley and myself. I know our relationship is stronger because of you. I'd also like to thank the many church leaders I've come to know who have devoted heroic levels of time and energy in constant concern
over me. You have influenced and helped me in ways you may not fully understand. I'd like to thank my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. The deepest joys of my life are and will continue to be completely and utterly founded upon them and their great plan of happiness, of which I do not fully comprehend, but of which I am constantly in awe. Finally, I’d like to thank Ashley for showing me that in the end, I did not need to settle, and that I could find someone who would truly be the love of my life--the perfect girl who is full of all the very best qualities that I had long before only dreamt of; for showing me that love and compassion has no bounds; you have helped me feel more confidence than I ever thought possible about a bright, eternal future.
THANK YOU from the bride First of all, I am so grateful to my parents Thank you for raising me and for supporting me through every stage of my life. To my mom, thank you for taking care of me from day one — for being there when I was sick, for driving me to endless dance practices, and for all of the other little things I needed as I was growing up. Thank you for teaching me to be kind and to be strong. You are a wonderful mother and I owe a lot of who I am to who you have taught me to become. You have a very special place in my heart and I love you so much. To my dad — you mean the world to me. Thanks for being my biggest fan, always. I don’t think there is a dad out there who could love his daughters more than you love Andrea and I. I feel that in my life and I know I am lucky to have you as a father. You have taught me to always believe in good things to come and to always see the best in others. You have always been my hero. I love you, Dad.
To my little sis, you might be my only sibling but you are still my favorite. Thank you for every handmade Christmas card and for watching all ten seasons of Friends with me. You are the Rachel to my Monica. Truly, we are wonderfully weird together and I love that. You have my back and can make me laugh in ways only a sister can. Thank you for being so eager to have Ryan as a brother. I love you more than Joey loves food! To my friends, thanks for traveling from near and far to be here for our big day. Whether you’ve been with me since kindergarten or we bonded as college roommates, I am so blessed to have each of you in my life. Thank you for being so supportive of Ryan and me, and for being so willing to help with all things weddingrelated. You guys keep me sane and I love you for it. To the Williams family, I have grown to love each of you so much and am so excited for all
the birthday parties, holidays, and fun I have to look forward to with you guys. Thank you for making me feel so loved and welcome among you. To my Heavenly Father and my Savior, I am deeply grateful for everything. And of course, to Ryan. Thank you for loving me and for being the patient, wonderful man that you are. I am so in love with you and so excited to be your wife.
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The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.
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